Oil on fibreboard

36 × 28 cm. 14 1/8 × 11 in.

Signed in Chinese and dated on bottom left; titled, dated and signed in Chinese on the reverse

LITERATURE
1992, Han Mo 6, Han Mo Xuan Co., Ltd, Hong Kong, p. 88
2007, The Complete Works of Wu Guanzhong, vol. 2, Hunan Art Publishing House, Changsha, p. 176
PROVENANCE
25 Sep 1989, Christie’s Hong Kong Autumn Auction, Lot 117
Important Private Collection, Asia

Embracing Emptiness, Savoring Life's Fragrance
Heroism of Wu Guanzhong

In 1972, after the darkest days of the Cultural Revolution had passed, Wu Guanzhong’s six-year painting ban was lifted. Returning from the rural village of Hebei to reunite with his family in Beijing marked a turning point in his fate amidst the tumultuous era. This shift brought optimism to the artist, allowing him to channel the energy accumulated during the six years of prohibition into free and prolific creations. Thus began Wu’s golden era in the 1970s, breaking free from ideological constraints, focusing on landscape painting, and exploring both domestic and foreign landscapes.

In essence, his art, although appearing as landscapes, serves as a canvas for his own life story and myriad sentiments towards life. The painting presented in this Spring auction, A New House, was born during this transformative period.

A New House is not a literal "new house" but a depiction of the artist's joy in returning to his ancestral home, reborn after the tribulations of the Cultural Revolution. The straight brick walls, intricately carved doorways, and twisting vines represent the quintessential scenery of northern China. Throughout A New House, warm and pure colours create a mature atmosphere filled with hope that has weathered countless storms.

Wu Guanzhong's Earliest Appearance in Auctions

Stylistically, A New House encapsulates the classic vocabulary of the artist's 1970s landscape themes, marking a pivotal point in his artistic style. In his personal life, it serves as a punctuation mark to Wu's tumultuous journey, signifying a new beginning full of freedom and hope. Simultaneously, it establishes a crucial starting point for Wu’s presence in the art market, launching over thirty years of remarkable development in the contemporary Chinese art market. In a 1989 auction in Hong Kong, A New House made its auction debut as Wu Guanzhong's "first-ever auctioned oil painting." Amid fierce competition, it achieved a price over twice the estimated value, solidifying and initiating Wu Guanzhong's enduring market allure, underscoring the unique historical significance and influence carried by A New House.

Foreground Composition, the Artist's Reverence

In A New House, Wu deliberately adopts an upward perspective, using the blooming flowers in the foreground to lead the viewer’s gaze towards the house with white walls and wooden-carved doors and windows in the background. These seemingly ordinary life elements represent Wu’s deepest and most revered aspirations.

The progression of elements highlights rich visual layers. The viewer’s gaze can ascend from the resilient bamboo fence and vines in the foreground to the straight, vibrant lines of the white walls and grey tiles in the midground, showcasing the simplicity and beauty of modern Chinese architecture. The background’s blue sky, partially veiled by the green shade on the right, intensifies the richness of the foreground’s architecture and greenery, embodying the flourishing resilience under challenging conditions that the artist faced during that time.

Wu Guanzhong infuses seemingly ordinary life scenes with dramatic storytelling. With a humble and reverent upward perspective, he reflects on his past life experiences and looks forward with anticipation to the future.

Homage to Van Gogh: Grass, the Strong Ones of Life

Examining the details of the painting, Wu uses swirling brushstrokes reminiscent of van Gogh to depict the leaves and flowers. Each stroke, whether facing towards the centre of the canvas or extending layer upon layer, exudes the vitality of life. Wu considers van Gogh the artist who influenced him the most deeply. The branches, leaves, and flowers stretching towards the centre of the canvas are bold, each stroke seemingly infused with the artist’s sincere emotions, a "heartbeat imprint" of his genuine connection with nature. Through vibrant strokes, Wu expresses his love and tribute to van Gogh, conveying his passionate desire to create during challenging times. Amidst the shades of blue and green, the painting brings out the simple essence of the foliage, elevating ordinary life with extraordinary breadth, devoid of unnecessary extravagance but resonating deeply with the audience.

A New House is not only an important work in the contemporary art history of China but also a significant historical record, illuminating Wu Guanzhong's patient and unwavering artistic hope during tumultuous times. The fervent emotions and powerful brushstrokes in the painting chronicle the ebbs and flows of life, becoming a sanctuary for the artist's soul, narrating the waiting and perseverance during extraordinary periods. As the vibrant leaves ascend, reflecting the artist's dedicated and pure heart, they find a home in this "New House," a destination aligned with the heart, rooted in the past.

Price estimate:
HKD: 6,000,000 – 8,000,000
USD: 766,300 - 1,021,700

Auction Result:
HKD: 9,627,000